The IDF and European soldiers serving in a UN "peacekeeper" force in Lebanon have come close to engaging each other in combat three times in the last month, according to foreign press reports.
German officials confirmed a Rheinische Post report that there had been three incidents recently involving the IDF and UN peacekeepers. The IDF spokesman also confirmed that Israel has investigated two complaints against its army by UN troops.
One of the incidents took place on April 30 and involved German and Israeli naval vessels. According to the German press report, Germany’s SS Niedersachsen took steps toward attacking an IDF naval vessel traveling toward it because the Israeli vessel did not identify itself.
Another incident involved Israeli fighter jets that approached German ships, according to German statements.
A third incident, also reported by Germany, allegedly involved an Israeli Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) approaching a Swedish speedboat, though no complaint was filed by Sweden.
Last October, incidents between German forces in Lebanon and IDF forces led to an apology by PM Olmert for “misunderstandings.” A German naval vessel, at the time, on an unannounced intelligence-gathering mission was targeted by IAF fighter jets, which fired warning shots over the ship.
Germany’s command center for its peacekeeper troops in Lebanon is located in the German city of Potsdam. The country’s Foreign Ministry downplayed the incidents, saying they would be worked out with Israel directly.